COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Cornell's volleyball team took on quality competition Friday, going 1-1 against foes from California and Pennsylvania during the opening round of the Colorado College Invitational at El Pomar Sports Center.
 
The Rams lost in three sets to No. 20 nationally-ranked UC Santa Cruz – 25-14, 25-17, 27-25 – and then bounced back with a 25-20, 25-22, 26-24 sweep over DeSales.
 
A service ace from Olivia Richards gave Cornell (13-7 overall) the clinching point in the 3-0 win against DeSales (13-7), marking the Rams' ninth sweep of the season. Richards' strong match included nine kills, 10 digs, three blocks and a pair of aces.
 
Junior Rory Light had an outstanding match at the net with 10 block assists, two shy of Cornell's single-match record. She also led the Rams with 12 kills.
 
Alissa McEndaffer turned in 11 kills, Clare Green set 35 assists and Sydney Meeker scooped 13 digs. The Rams outhit the Bulldogs, .222 to .074.
 
The Rams hung tough with UC Santa Cruz (15-2) in a battle that saw the score tied 24 times over the final two sets. The Banana Slugs used an 8-0 run to finish Set 2. Cornell had set-point serve twice in Set 3, leading 24-23 and 25-24.
 
Light tallied a blistering .632 attack percentage and led all players with 12 kills on 19 error-less swings. She also had five blocks.
 
McEndaffer added eight kills and 10 digs. Meeker notched 10 digs and two aces. Green delivered 26 assists.
 
UC Santa Cruz totaled 36 kills, to Cornell's 30.
 
Cornell resumes play Saturday with matches against Nebraska Wesleyan at 1 p.m. (Central Time) and seventh-ranked Colorado College at 7 p.m.